State of Emergency Declared in Santorini Amidst Ongoing Earthquakes
The Greek government has declared a state of emergency in Santorini, effective until at least March 1, due to a series of earthquakes that have struck the island for nearly two weeks. The emergency declaration allows for the expedited construction of infrastructure to stabilize the island's volcanic caldera, bypassing standard legal requirements. Professor Efthimis Lekkas, an expert in Natural Disaster Management, has warned of a heightened risk of landslides along the caldera, where the capital Fira and the popular town of Oia are located.
In recent days, the seismic activity has triggered a mass exodus, with approximately 11,000 residents leaving the island, leaving around 4,000 people and a handful of tourists behind. Santorini, typically a bustling tourist destination with over three million annual visitors, comprises about 15,000 official residents, alongside an estimated 10,000 unregistered individuals.
Between January 26 and February 3, over 6,400 earthquakes have been recorded in the maritime area between Santorini and Amorgos, with around 800 tremors exceeding a magnitude of 2.5. Reports indicate that tremors persist, occurring approximately every ten minutes with magnitudes between 1.2 and 4.6.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is scheduled to visit the island, alongside Civil Protection Minister Vasilis Kikilias, in an effort to reassure island residents. Emergency response teams have been bolstered, including the deployment of a helicopter and multiple Coast Guard vessels to ensure the safety of the remaining inhabitants and any tourists.
The Central Union of Chambers of Commerce of Greece has urged the government to provide economic support, warning that the tremors could greatly affect Santorini's tourism-driven economy in the medium to long term. Most seismologists suggest that while the likelihood of a major earthquake (magnitude 6 or higher) remains low, residents can expect continued seismic activity for weeks, if not months.
Experts clarify that the recent seismic occurrences stem from the movement of tectonic plates along the Andros submarine fault rather than volcanic activity. Nonetheless, the potential for volcanic unrest cannot be entirely dismissed, as ongoing tremors may influence future volcanic behavior.
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